An investigation is under way to determine what happened to the Belle of Louisville when the paddle-wheeler crashed Saturday, injuring two people.
About 300 people were on the boat for a cruise when the crash happened.Passengers said after lunch was over and people were dancing to a band, the Belle drifted toward a parked barge near Captain's Quarters east of downtown.The paddle wheel spun in reverse but kept drifting, then hit McBride Dry Dock.Sign Up For E-Mail Alerts
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Six passengers lost their balance and were thrown to the floor.Witnesses said the Belle then lost power and began to spin in a circle until two boats came to help.Two passengers requested to be taken to the hospital with minor injuries.Officials told WLKY a strong wind is to blame for the drifting boat."After it hit, they came on and told everyone to sit down," said Sue Devine, a passenger. "But there was no announcement beforehand saying, 'Hold on.' There should've been an announcement saying, 'Hold on.'"While a Coast Guard representative said that investigation could take weeks or months to complete, on Monday, insurance assessors were checking out the damage to the Belle and to McBride Dry Dock where Chad mcbride said the Belle knocked a four foot by four foot hole in a half-inch of steel.As for the Belle, it's expected about a half of the paddle wheel will need to be replaced.After the wheel is repaired, then its alignment will be checked."Whether or not the wheel is turning straight will be a big part of the assessment," Belle CEO Linda Harris said.Harris said what's especially difficult is October is the busiest month of year for the Belle, and the boat was booked solid these past two weekends.Harris said she's currently reviewing the bookings for the rest of the month with the possibility of shifting that business to the Spirit of Jefferson.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

An investigation is under way to determine what happened to the Belle of Louisville when the paddle-wheeler crashed Saturday, injuring two people.

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About 300 people were on the boat for a cruise when the crash happened.

Passengers said after lunch was over and people were dancing to a band, the Belle drifted toward a parked barge near Captain's Quarters east of downtown.

Witnesses said the Belle then lost power and began to spin in a circle until two boats came to help.

Two passengers requested to be taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Officials told WLKY a strong wind is to blame for the drifting boat.

"After it hit, they came on and told everyone to sit down," said Sue Devine, a passenger. "But there was no announcement beforehand saying, 'Hold on.' There should've been an announcement saying, 'Hold on.'"

While a Coast Guard representative said that investigation could take weeks or months to complete, on Monday, insurance assessors were checking out the damage to the Belle and to McBride Dry Dock where Chad mcbride said the Belle knocked a four foot by four foot hole in a half-inch of steel.

As for the Belle, it's expected about a half of the paddle wheel will need to be replaced.

After the wheel is repaired, then its alignment will be checked.

"Whether or not the wheel is turning straight will be a big part of the assessment," Belle CEO Linda Harris said.

Harris said what's especially difficult is October is the busiest month of year for the Belle, and the boat was booked solid these past two weekends.

Harris said she's currently reviewing the bookings for the rest of the month with the possibility of shifting that business to the Spirit of Jefferson.